Women of color, particularly Black women and women of African descent are less likely to be screened for PPD and less likely to get treatment and receive follow-up care. Results show that it is more likely for treatment teams to attribute symptoms of Black and Latin women to other ailments and not PPD.

To make it plain, while many women are never screened, women of color are bypassed in the screening process even more so, and when they do display symptoms of PPD, other factors are often blamed. Black women and women of African descent are consistently not getting the help they really need. This reality means it is vital for women who are at risk for perinatal mood disorders to be strong self-advocates while we work to change the systems that marginalize them.

People facing diagnosis of mental illness face significant difficulties around the stigmatization of having a mental health condition. When we factor in minority statuses, especially multiple overlapping minority identities, the stigma becomes heavier and far more damaging. This is what it means when activists and experts reference that African American and Black women are at the greatest risk in the maternal mental health discussion.

We believe that not a single mother should suffer in isolation with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS). Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders do not discriminate, but systems do. Our response to systems that seek to disenfranchise women of color is to provide a tool to increase the quality of care Black women receive. Our African/Black Diaspora Checklist was designed with Black women in mind.

Our checklist was developed with feedback from clinical experts and patient input in order to empower Black women who are seeking support around their experiences with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. The checklist is designed to:

Empower mothers to help themselves.

Facilitate conversations that can be difficult for mothers to start with their doctors and other care providers.

Reinforce the variety of recognized, evidence-based symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to both mothers and clinicians.

Reinforce the variety of recognized, evidence-based risk factors of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to both mothers and clinicians.

Help clinicians get a clearer picture of how to best assist their patients.

So what has changed?

We know that Black women and women of African descent experience a different range of symptoms and risk factors concerning PMADS. Additionally, Black women and women of African descent do not conceptualize their emotional experiences in the same way that other race and ethnic groups do. As a result, symptoms of depression may show up far more physical and less psychological.

Black and African women suffering with undiagnosed PMADS also have different environmental risk factors. Openly suffering from mental illness is something that is highly tabooed in the cultural relations of Black women (Schreiber et al). Among researchers of Black women’s experiences with depression, being strong repeatedly emerges as a key factor in their experiences (Beauboeuf-LaFontant, “You have to Show Strength” 35).

Clinicians and care providers must take into consideration the impact that race-based violence and oppression play in increasing the presentation of symptoms in Black women and women of African descent. Care providers who wish to provide quality care for Black women and women of African descent must be willing to change the lens to address the unique needs of this population.

As such, we’ve created the Black/African Diaspora New Mom Mental Health Checklist to help empower mothers of color speak directly to their clinicians. We hope it will help moms advocate for themselves and help clinicians recognize the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and Black/African women.

At the age of 24, after the birth of our first son and deep in the throes of postpartum depression and anxiety, my therapist also diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She explained I’d likely lived with the disorder most of my life.

Suddenly, much of my life made a whole lot more sense.

That freak out during the college application process? The heart monitoring I’d had done during my sophomore year of high school for “chest pain” that went unexplained? Sweat-inducing panic before tests? The antenatal depression I experienced with my daughter?

I made a lot of life choices—and mistakes—not understanding I lived with an anxiety disorder. I thought I lacked something that came to others easily. I didn’t understand I needed help, both from a therapist and occasionally medication, to help me function at my best.

Over a decade later, I now know how to cope with my anxiety and recognize when I’m slipping into a depressive episode. I have plans for what to do when I feel a panic attack coming on, and it’s all because I understand my diagnosis.

And too many moms who experience postpartum mood and anxiety disorders don’t know what they don’t know.

At Postpartum Progress, we’re working really hard to raise awareness and break the stigma of postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar, psychosis, PTSD, and all their various symptoms. We regularly share stories from moms who state they didn’t know anything about the mood disorder they experienced. They felt sideswiped by PMADs during what everyone else told them should have been the happiest time of their lives.

According to the CDC, 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression. And that’s just those who self-report and seek care by a professional. That number doesn’t include postpartum anxiety, psychosis, OCD, PTSD, and the other postpartum mood and anxiety disorders outside the PPD diagnosis. That number doesn’t include those who, for whatever reason—stigma, fear, ignorance of symptoms, family pressure, stubbornness—don’t seek care.

Too many moms still live through their child’s first year—and beyond—not understanding that motherhood doesn’t have to feel hopeless. That they don’t need to feel filled with rage. That intrusive thoughts don’t actually mean they’ll hurt their child. That it’s not normal to feel so overwhelmed with anxiety that you fear leaving the house, letting others hold your baby, or letting your child sleep.

Additionally, too many doctors miss and dismiss postpartum depression. “You’re a new mom. It’s supposed to feel hard.” Moms who find the courage to ask for help are turned away, feeling as though they’re just not good enough at motherhood. That instead of having a mood disorder, they’re just doing the whole mom thing wrong.

And let’s talk access: While the author of the offending article added a disclaimer that she didn’t mean to attack those who can’t afford care, access to care is a huge issues for those experiencing mental illness. Beyond economic disparity, wagging your finger at undiagnosed mental illness ignores the cultural stigmas that prevent some mothers from seeking care because mental illness is not okay within their society.

What we don’t need is an article telling anyone to stop complaining about their undiagnosed mental illnesses. Ever. Doing so leaves those who know they’re experiencing something feeling more silenced than ever. Doing so leaves moms who feel weighed down by the stigma of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders unable to push through and seek care.

What we do need is a society that welcomes those with mental illness and encourages them to seek care. One who meets them where they are and says, “I am here for you.” One that says, “It’s okay if you’re feeling this way. There’s hope. There’s help.”

When we attempt to silence hurting individuals, we hurt us all.

If you need help reaching out to seek care for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders for the first time, please let us know. We can connect you with specialists or support groups or Warrior Mom Ambassadors in your area who will lead you through the process.

“The more open I was, the more acceptance I got from people,” she said. “I got so much support and so much love. I was floored. I feel much more exposed, yes, but in a great way.”

She’s been open, honest, and vocal about her experience, and we continue to love the way she’s using her experience to educate and destigmatize postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. The more the general public hears about postpartum depression, the more it becomes less scary, less “other,” and the more likely moms might be to reach out for help when they’re suffering.

But the truth is this: Even Hayden was shocked that she received support.

Moms remain silent, hiding their symptoms from even those they’re closest to, out of fear of being judged, fear of being told they’re not a good mother, fear of admitting what they perceive to be some kind of inherent female flaw. Whether it’s their first or their fifth child, moms experiencing a postpartum mood and anxiety disorder fear they’re just bad moms. Not good enough. Broken.

Unfortunately, the stigma of maternal mental health isn’t imaginary. These moms don’t fear the reactions of others without reason. People, sometimes even with good intentions, spout of all kinds of things which aren’t helpful at best and, at their worst, can destroy a mom’s sense of self-worth.

“I don’t know why you aren’t feeling bonded with your baby; I loved my daughter the moment I set eyes on her.” “I’ve never felt resentment for my child. What’s wrong with you?” “You’re just not trying hard enough.” “Pray harder.” “If you hadn’t quit breastfeeding, you’d be feeling better.” “If you’d quit breastfeeding, you’d feel better.” “Exercise more.” “Taking time for yourself is selfish.” “This is supposed to be the happiest time of your life.”

Moms hear these things. They internalize them. They hear the unspoken point of the words: You’re doing motherhood wrong. Something is wrong with you.

Good Moms.

Moms with postpartum depression are good moms. Moms experiencing postpartum anxiety are good moms. And postpartum OCD. And postpartum psychosis. And postpartum bipolar. And postpartum PTSD. And moms experiencing intrusive thoughts or suicidal ideation or insomnia or rage or crippling fear or all of the above. Moms seeking care for mental illness are good moms. Moms struggling to reach out for help are good moms. Moms who don’t know what’s happening inside their head and body are still good moms.

Our wish is that all moms would not just realize that postpartum mental illness doesn’t define their motherhood but that all moms would feel supported in their battle against postpartum depression and other postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. That when a mom starts to feel like something might not be right, she can reach out to those closest to her or seek care from a doctor, nurse, therapist, or do research online without fear of judgment or some form of punishment. That moms won’t feel silenced by social, cultural, or religious beliefs in their own communities. That moms can share their stories, online and off, to receive support without nasty comments or dismissive tones. That as mothers beat postpartum depression, they can reply in kind to those just starting their own battles, offering support and hope.

Peer support isn’t just part of our mission because we think it’s trendy. Peer support is our model of support because we know that receiving support for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders means the world to moms. It works. It changes the lives of moms and helps babies and families. Supporting moms where they are with what they need, no matter their diagnosis, should be a goal for all.

Our community feels a little lost, a little angry, a little unsettled right now in light of the loss of a mama to postpartum depression. We’ve been talking about it and how the loss to suicide of Sasha Hettich has affected us on our Facebook page, so I thought perhaps we didn’t need a post here on the blog.

But as I’ve watched things unfold, online and off, in the wake of this loss, I’ve seen some beautiful things happen. If you’re not looking at the whole picture, it’s easy to miss the beauty in the ashes, so I thought I’d share how I’m finding the good after this loss to suicide by postpartum depression.

Less than a week after the loss of his wife, he chose to speak out, to share the truth about what mothers and families need as a mom battles postpartum depression. What they don’t need, of course, is the stigma of people saying depressed women don’t need to have children. What they do need is support, love, compassion, caring. And yes, sometimes it’s not enough; a woman gets lost in the darkness and can’t find the light. But Cody’s choice to share their story, their truth, only means that more women will know about available support, will know that they can and should ask for help. It means more dads might better recognize the signs and symptoms in their own partners before it’s too late.

I’ve also watched our Warrior Moms combat stigma on Facebook when judgmental people leave unnecessary comments full of misguided information and uninformed opinion. They’ve shared how stigma hurts moms, how it’s not always easy to seek care due to fear of treatment or lack of resources in their area. They’ve fought the fight against misinformation and a lack of compassion. They’ve done so well; I feel so proud of each and every one of them.

Additionally, I’ve watched as Warrior Moms surrounded other Warrior Moms who felt deeply triggered, hurt, scared, and confused by this loss in our community. They’ve encouraged each other to practice self-care. I watched as one mom invited another to a postpartum depression support group, and was moved to tears by the compassion I saw as they reached for each other. I’ve seen mamas lift each other up, share their stories, and love on one another in ways that these mothers truly needed to get through this time. It’s felt encouraging to witness.

3. The more we talk about suicide, the more we support each other.

Even in mental health safe spaces like Postpartum Progress, we tend to shy away from talking about suicide too much. It feels too big to tackle sometimes. No one really wants to go there out of fear or triggering another mama. Sometimes moms fear that by discussing suicide, even with their therapists, they’ll be classified as suicidal and thus risk losing their kids.

But being honest about suicidal thinking—what it looks like, when it happens, what to do about it—is important. It’s important because you don’t have to live with those thoughts. You deserve freedom from those thoughts, and the first step in getting free from them is admitting that they exist. It’s scary to admit to your therapist you have those thoughts when they ask, but it will help you.

And yet…

We recognize none of the good we seek after this loss will bring Sasha back. We would give up all this good to have her back. It feels like a personal blow to each of us, and we realize how much more devastating her loss must feel for those who knew and loved her personally. To them we extend our love, our sympathy, our condolences, our thoughts and prayers. Please know that during this dark time, we are here for you as well.

Lastly, if you are having suicidal thoughts or considering suicide, please go to your local emergency room or call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255. But know this: You are not alone.

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Disclaimer

Postpartum Progress exists to provide peer-to-peer support. The information on this site is for educational, advocacy purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or psychological condition. Please consult your own health care provider for individual advice regarding your specific situation and needs.